Concerns Over Election Integrity and Efforts to Address Them

What’s really shaking confidence in elections isn’t just the idea that foreign billionaires can meddle or that complex voting systems, like ranked-choice voting, can fail us. This year, various Congresses nationwide focused on these pressing threats to the integrity of elections. Recent reports indicate that eight states have successfully closed significant loopholes that previously allowed foreign billionaires to fund their campaigns with undisclosed money. Additionally, six more states have put a stop to ranked-choice voting, marking a major legislative victory for conservative states in 2025.

Many Americans might be surprised, even shocked, to learn about the vulnerabilities our electoral system faces from foreign influences. Under current federal laws, foreigners are prohibited from donating to specific candidates or political parties but can still funnel substantial amounts into state or local voting measures. This essentially means that, while foreign billionaires may not sway a direct race, they can pour millions into passing constitutional amendments that significantly alter the electoral landscape.

This loophole has been particularly beneficial for Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss. Reports reveal that he funneled around $280 million through various efforts across 26 states. His spending highlights how easily this system can be exploited by foreign actors, not just from countries like Switzerland but also China and Russia.

Fortunately, some conservative states are stepping up to eliminate these threats. This year, following Ohio’s lead in 2024, eight states—Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Tennessee, and Wyoming—enacted laws forbidding foreign funding for voting measures. Even the Democratic governor of Kentucky signed on to such legislation.

However, it’s worth noting that not everyone is on board. Many on the left are fighting to keep these loopholes open for their own partisan reasons. Mark Elias, a leading Democratic election lawyer, made attempts in both Ohio and Kansas to block these bans but lost both cases, even in front of Obama-appointed judges. Clearly, states have the authority to ban foreign funds, and that should be the standard across the board.

Ranked-choice voting also remains a contentious issue, with the past year seeing significant efforts to halt its adoption. This system requires voters to rank multiple candidates, with votes counted in rounds where losers are knocked out and votes are redistributed. If voters don’t rank enough candidates, their votes essentially get tossed out. It’s not uncommon for the counting process to take days or, in some cases, weeks. A notable example is Alaska, where votes often aren’t tabulated until 15 days post-election. In California, a tally error once resulted in the wrong candidates being certified for one race. This makes what should be a straightforward election a rather convoluted affair.

The public seems to have recognized the pitfalls of ranked-choice voting early on. Supporters of the system tried to invest almost $100 million in various measures across six states in 2024, but nearly all of these efforts floundered. Only D.C. managed to adopt this system, hardly a ringing endorsement.

From 2022 to 2024, 11 states successfully banned ranked-choice voting. This year, six more—Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming—moved to make it illegal, and Utah allowed its failed pilot program to sunset.

While conservatives should celebrate these victories, complacency could be dangerous. States like Michigan, Florida, Nebraska, and others are still seeing significant foreign influence in voting campaigns, yet little action has been taken. Progressive groups continue to advocate for ranked-choice voting, especially after seeing its potential to boost certain candidates in states like New York. Lobbyists are actively seeking signatures for another voting initiative in Michigan, signaling that the fight is far from over.

This situation serves as a reminder: securing our elections is an ongoing challenge. Despite significant progress in 2025, conservative leaders will need to keep up this momentum as we move into 2026 and beyond.